8 replies to this topic

[sweetjim13]

Hi,

I'm a c-5 who has little experience with others in my situation. I'm curious as to what other quads can/cannot do, what kinda attendant care they require, do they work, exercise they do daily, any health issues, etc. Anyone willing to compare notes?

Jim

[zeta]

Hi I dont know anyone in our situation either. There isn't much I've tried to do that I couldn't accomplish without a little practice. I do my share of housework. my husband does everything thats extremely difficult or out of reach (pulling hot pans out of oven, transfering clothes from washer to dryer, mopping and sweeping I hate doing floors anyway) He helps me into the shower but only because its a step up to get to (not done remodeling house). I'm pretty healthy the only problem is fatigue I'm still getting adjusted to nuerontin and baclofen doc says to just give it time. I was a stay at home mom before injury and will continue to do so. I have 3 boys 9,7,&3 best job I ever had also hardest. Try chasing wet naked 3yr old through the house! Enough about me hows daily life for you?

[Tarkus]

sweetjim13, on Jan 23 2007, 03:30 PM, said:

Hi,

I'm a c-5 who has little experience with others in my situation. I'm curious as to what other quads can/cannot do, what kinda attendant care they require, do they work, exercise they do daily, any health issues, etc. Anyone willing to compare notes?

Jim

As far as what you will be able to do nobody knows for sure.

I do no this, in the middle of this KNBC news story is my friend, Jerry Kerr, complete Quad.


http://www.nbc4.tv/n...115/detail.html

Nothing has stopped this guy.

With that I wish you all the best, and hope that in time you will be able to do many of the things you did before.

Be Big,
Alan

[Izziwhizzi]

Tarkus, on Jan 23 2007, 11:25 PM, said:

sweetjim13, on Jan 23 2007, 03:30 PM, said:

Hi,

I'm a c-5 who has little experience with others in my situation. I'm curious as to what other quads can/cannot do, what kinda attendant care they require, do they work, exercise they do daily, any health issues, etc. Anyone willing to compare notes?

Jim

As far as what you will be able to do nobody knows for sure.

I do no this, in the middle of this KNBC news story is my friend, Jerry Kerr, complete Quad.

http://www.nbc4.tv/n...115/detail.html

Nothing has stopped this guy.

Hi

I looked at the link, and, I'm sorry theres no complete quad there! In my terminology a complete break isn't one which allows you to use your legs and ride a segway.

What do YOU want to do? Think about that. I mean Quads can tandem ski-dive.

In my experience many quads with limited active carers or friends stay at home, watch tv, use computers etc & don't get into the outdoor world. The more capable & physically able carers (paid or spouse/friend/relative/organisation) give quads freedom to explore life in the outside world.

I'm a female C6 complete quad with curled up fingers, arms that I can't lift straight above my head, so maybe I'm a C5-6-ish quad, and nothing cracking off at all below injury site.

So I can type, eat, drink, use a phone, write (using a glove). I can't cook, get myself hot food, turn myself wash, dress or toilet myself. I can't do a lot physically really. I have done a full time degree in 3 years at Uni & had 2 kids around 20 years post injury. I now spend most of my time giving them the most I can.

But I've skied on fresh powder down red routes (in a cart that can take C4's), waterskied on a board (being supported by a slightly bonkers one legged ski instructor), snorkelled off coral logoons in the south pacific - all with great muscle bound helpers. I've travelled loads, laughed with aborigines in the middle of Australia, stayed in underground hotels & fosicked for opals, been on whale watching trips off California, flown over the Grand Canyon, lost money in Vegas (it was only 27 dollars but it took me 3 days to loose it), camped in tents in vinyards in France, rolled down the side of the mattahorn in Switzerland and many times danced away till dawn broke in the Caribbean.

I do try to not to stay indoors couped up just feeling the cold. Last night it snowed here - not much but it snowed but I was at a parents meeting for my kids school where I do loads of organising fetes, money raising for the school. In the last few days I've been to see a comedian do a show, taken & helped my kids with a community art class, got to take them with 2 lots of swimming lessons, had their friends round for tea. I go to gigs, the cinema, retuarants, exhibitions, art galleries and yes I even do the grocery shopping.

BUT and the big but is that I have a great other half who helps me get out & do these things.

I did have a time - as a tetra in a time before computers, day time TV & remote control TVs - where I just had help to toilet, get up, limit to a shower once a week & had food, and I didn't have accessible transport. My injury & its timing meant I had no friends within a 2 hour drive. My excitement then was to see the Avon lady once a month - no joke. That nearly killed me so I changed it.

Sorry, I feel like I've gone on a bit of a rant but I hope that helps give you a taste of what I can do.

L xx

[Apparelyzed]

I'm a C5/6 complete Quad as well, and can do all that Izziwhizzi can do.

I do cook meals which have been prepared, use a frying pan for chicken, fish, vegetables etc. Use an oven to cook chicken, fish, chips, potatoes etc. Use a steamer for fresh vegetables. Use a microwave for the odd ready meal.

I can do housework as well, use a dustbuster to get the rough stuff up off the floor, dust, tidy up, especially my daughters bedroom.

I can also empty my own legbag which means I can be left alone if need be.

I can also transfer between level surfaces, or from high to low surfaces.

If you practice enough, it's suprising what you can do!

Simon

[professirx]

I'm c5c7
gunshot
suprapubic cath 'tube out bladder'
dysreflexic at times
pains
headaces
sweats 'cold'

I do videos and music
www.myspace.com/professirx

[Tarkus]

Izziwhizzi, on Jan 24 2007, 07:15 AM, said:

Tarkus, on Jan 23 2007, 11:25 PM, said:

sweetjim13, on Jan 23 2007, 03:30 PM, said:

Hi,

I'm a c-5 who has little experience with others in my situation. I'm curious as to what other quads can/cannot do, what kinda attendant care they require, do they work, exercise they do daily, any health issues, etc. Anyone willing to compare notes?

Jim

As far as what you will be able to do nobody knows for sure.

I do no this, in the middle of this KNBC news story is my friend, Jerry Kerr, complete Quad.

http://www.nbc4.tv/n...115/detail.html

Nothing has stopped this guy.

Hi

I looked at the link, and, I'm sorry theres no complete quad there! In my terminology a complete break isn't one which allows you to use your legs and ride a segway.

Of course your correct, my typo . that should have read INComplet.

Thanks.

Be Big,
Alan

[LadyPilot]

Apparelyzed, on Jan 24 2007, 01:31 PM, said:

If you practice enough, it's suprising what you can do!

Simon

When I first left hospital I could do the basics, get dressed, feed myself, self catheterize (that happened by accident when bladder repeatedly expelled SRC with balloon still inflated ) and do my own bowel routine. My husband (now ex) did everything else for me. The Spinal Consultant told me, "go home and learn to knit, because it's the only thing you'll ever be able to do".

As that marriage broke down I attempted to do more for myself. I nutured the mother of all tempers and refused to accept that I couldn't do something. I cried with frustration, but over a period of four years I gained my full independence. I got divorced. I lived alone for another four years before meeting and marrying my present husband. He belongs to the RAF and so I am alone for a fair amount of time.

To all extent and purpose I consider myself able bodied. I can drive a car, fly a plane, cook ( I can lift a roast out of the oven), hoover, do all the shopping, look after my pony etc. The only difference is that I do it from a wheelchair. I realise I am probably unique and being incomplete has made a difference in power returning to my hands and arms. The intrinsic muscles in my right hand remain weak and I cant hold a knife in the normal manner. I can write with a 'fat' pen. Anything needing strength I use my left hand.
I owe my independence to my ex, for had he been the loving caring person he made out to be we'd still be married and I probably would still need his help.
I am not implying that everyone here should have the independence that I've got, I have been very lucky.

[Captain Pike]

Hello Jim:

I'm also a C-5 quad, complete. I rely pretty heavily on attendants that come in in the morning for my bowel routine, get me dressed and (ahem, very often shower). I'm not quite two years injured. I'm not very independent. I've been working on things like reading (I can deal with a regular book pretty well now) eating -- I don't use any prosthetic strap things, instead, developed a way of holding spoons and forks in my fairly curled up hand. I've been writing, and signing holding it pencil or pen again, without prosthesis, or somebody loading my hand. I can get in and out of my house and downtown. Lately, I have been practicing buying stuff by myself. I wear a fanny pack which is partially opened so I can reach in all my cash/credit cards. I rely on people to hang the shopping bag on my wheelchair. So I'm doing little things, kind of, and working on the mental part of this: for me, a positive mental attitude is the only way I can get anything done.

Ultimately, I'd like to be able to transfer myself from my bed to the wheelchair which, at present, is not happening. Guys like us can do this kind of stuff though. Plenty of guys with a C-5 injury at two years are doing more transfer type stuff than I am. I'm doing a lot of reading and writing, however. I can put a loose longsleeved shirt on myself and get it off, but my pants, no way. About a year ago, I was working really hard on rolling over, leg lifting, helping in transfers. I got so discouraged that I was useless. I will again launch out on a more vigorous course of action regarding these kinds of things. BUT, JUST FOR ME: I need to be good to myself. I was at the point where I was telling myself I was a piece of crap because my shoulder hurt really bad when I rolled on it -- this is BS and not useful for me.

It's good to get with other quadriplegics. This is where we learn stuff, and more importantly, where we get the enthusiasm to push ourselves towards independence. I am also very lucky to have the perfect wife. She did all my care 24/7 for the first nine months. Now she works a full-time job and we rely on helpers. She pushed me when I needed pushing and she supported me when times were tough. Most people aren't as lucky as me: I've been able to travel on a cruise ship, airline, swim in the pool, go camping, act in a play, and I'm not even that motivated on my own. People in this forum can be really helpful in selecting and at encouraging all kinds of different activities.

Feel free to message me with any questions you may have, I'm sure many of the other forum members would be okay with that as well.